Advocate for Play-Based Learning:
Promote the value of play as an essential foundation for learning in early childhood. This would include:

• Encouraging policies that support play as a core method of teaching.
• Educating parents, teachers, and policymakers on the importance of play in child development.

Professional Development for Educators:
Provide ongoing professional development workshops, webinars, and resources for educators to incorporate effective play-based learning into their classrooms. Topics could include: 

• Understanding different types of play (e.g., solitary, cooperative, imaginative, physical).
• How play supports STEM learning, language development, and social-emotional growth.
• Practical strategies for integrating play into various curriculums.

Build Collaborative Networks:
Foster collaboration between early childhood educators, administrators, families, and community stakeholders to ensure a unified understanding of the importance of play. This could include: 

• Networking opportunities for educators.
• Community play events, such as playdates, festivals, or outdoor classrooms, to engage the broader community in child-centered education.

Research and Innovation:
Encourage research and innovation in the field of early childhood play. Support and share research findings that emphasize the cognitive and developmental benefits of play. Host symposia or conferences that explore cutting-edge studies and share best practices for play-based learning.

Advocacy and Outreach:
Develop outreach programs to educate and involve the public in the importance of play for young children. This could include: 

• Creating accessible resources (e.g., informational brochures, websites, social media campaigns) for families to better understand the significance of play.
• Partnerships with local libraries, parks, and museums to host interactive play events.

Statewide Cultural Shift toward Play: The long-term goal is to transform the culture around early childhood education in Illinois, making play the centerpiece of learning. This shift would mean that play is seen not just as “free time” or an add-on, but as the primary mode of teaching and learning. Educators would understand play’s power to build critical thinking skills, social competencies, and emotional intelligence. Communities, schools, and families would all view play as a vital tool for lifelong learning.

Strengthen Community Collaboration: We run to build a robust network of communities where local organizations, parks, museums, and early childhood education centers work together to provide playful learning opportunities for children. The chapter will facilitate these collaborations, creating partnerships that leverage local resources to maximize play-based education for all young children in Illinois.